Composite elastic top lift for shoe heels



Dec 18, 1928. 1,696,173

M. RUDMAN COMPOSITE ELASTIC TOP LIFT FOR SHOE HEELS Filed Aug. 16, 1926 INVENTOR:

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

1,696,173 UNITED STATES PATENT. orince,

MAUDE RUDMAN, or INDIANAPOLIS, INDI NA, ASSIGNOR pro MARK RUDMAN, or 1 INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

comrosrrn EL STIC T)? LIFT ron snor: rin es.

Application filed August-16, 1926. Serial No, 129,451.

This invention relates to the class of shoe heels having thin side coverings, especially satin covered heels usually applied to satin shoes, the invention having reference more 5 particularly to an elastic covering-protecting top lift for such heels.

An object of the invention is to provide a composite top lift for shoe heels that shall be so constructed as to be adapted to be sold in commerce, and to be applied in manufacturing and repairing of shoe heels, as a mutary heel cushion.

Another object is to provide a composlte elastic top lift for shoe heels that shall be of such construction as to afford elast1c1ty in all directions to the wearing portion of the top lift, and a non-elastic back portion that shall have a hard surface without any elasticity along the plane of the back of the top lift, to prevent theelastic portion of the top lift from wearing away the fabric heel covering where it is turned over onto the bottom of the heel body for holding the covering in place. k I

5 A further object is to provide a composite elastic top' lift for shoe heels that shall be so constructed as to permit it to be handled as a unit,"and so applied to a heel body in a rapid and eflicient manner, and which shall so be capable of protecting heel coverings.

against destructive damage heretofore caused by rubbertop lifts rubbing and wearing away the fabric overlap of the heel covering a ainst which the rubber lift was fastened, w1ich composite top lift shall be durable and economical in use. A

With the above-mentioned and otherobjects in view, the invention consists in a to lift for shoe heels so constructed as to a 40 ford a heel cushion having a smooth back portion that is substantially non-elastic, especially along the plane of'the back of the lift, the invention consisting also in the parts and novel combinations and arrangements thereof as hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings-Figure 1' is a side view of a shoe having a covered. heel provided with the improved top lift; 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the heel and the improved top. lift on an enlarged.

scale; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the im roved top lift.

imilar reference characters in the differentfigures of the drawings indicate corresponding elements or features of construction herein referred to in detail.

In the drawings the numeral -1 designates the upper part or body of a shoe, 2 the shoe sole,'and 3 the complete heel.

The heel shown in explanation of the invention comprises the body part 4 which may be composed of wood or other suitable substance and suitably shaped ornamentally, and it has a covering 5 on its side and rear portion and a similar covering 5 on its forward portion, usually composed of thin material, many having satin fabric coverings. side and rear portions of the covering are secured in place by turning over a portion thereof to constitute an overlap 6, the forward portion of the covering having an overlap 6' thereon, the overlaps being suitably secured to the base portion of the heel body that is secured to the shoe sole. The side and rear portions of' the coverings are. turned The over to form an overlap securing portion 7,

the forward cover portion similarly having an overlap portion 7, the overlap portions being suitably secured to the normal bottom end of the heel body which is commonly provided with a cushioning lift. When the common rubber top lift has been applied to the heel body the elasticity of the top lift permitsthe latter to move and drag the overlapping portions when the wearer of the shoe is walking,'with the result that the over- I lapping portions 7 and 7 become partially Worn away, and fragments are punched out from place and become ragged edges that are exposed and are unsightly around the heel adjacent to the top lift.

In carrying out the objects of invention an elastic top lift part 8 is provided which may, be composed of' rubber composition commonly termed rubber, so as to aflord a heel'cushion, and it is provided with a thin hard and smooth backing part 9 which may be composed of suitable vulcanized fiber, or of metal if preferred, both practically noncompressible, the backing part being attached to the back of the cushioning part by suitable means, such as a thin adhesive film or layer 10 of rubber or suitable cement applied to both parts. Thus made the top lift is sold,

ready for application; The backing or nonelastic part 9 may beslightly flexible or elastie and should be sufficiently tough to prevent crackin thereof in use. The im roved top lift comp etc is secured in place with-the backing part 9 a ainst the overlaps 7 and 7 by means of nai s 11 as in common practice and in some cases by means of an additional central screw 12.

In practical use the improved top lift erforms the function of a conventional cus lion heel, the marginal portions which are subjected to thrusts and pressure in walking bemg elongated or stretched and subsequently contracted but must slide or creep in contact with the backing part 9 which is fixedly held against the overlapping portions 7 and 7', the movements of the elastic part gradually causing rupture and separation of the adhesive layer 10 from the backing 9 which usually occurs and permits the creeping of the elastic part 8 against the backing, the latter completely protecting the fabric overlaps from wearing action.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A composite elastic top lift for shoe heels comprising an elastic main part, a film of rupturable adhesive substance sep'arably attached to the back of the main part, and a relatively hard non-stretching backing part separably attached to the film of adhesive su stance.

2. An improved article of manufacture comprising an elastic composition heel lift, a relatively thin and hard non-compressible and non-stretching backing layer for the heel lift, and a layer of rupturable adhesive substance interposed between the backing layer and the heel lift and separahly attached thereto, enabling the heel lift to carry the backing layer as a complete unit to be together secured to a shoe heel body.

3. An article of manufacture comprising a unitary top lift for shoe heels, each to lift being composed of a lower part and a acking part connected together to enable the lower part to handle the backing part, the lower part being elastic and the backing part non-elastic and non-compressible, and a rupturable layer of adhesive substance interposed between said two parts and detachably securing the parts togel her with imperfect cementing connection.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature on the 11th day of August 1926.

MAUDE RUDMAN 

